Israel is reportedly pressuring the United States to use its most powerful non-nuclear weapon—the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP)—in a strike against Iran’s heavily fortified Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, as tensions mount in the Middle East.
The 30,000-pound bomb, dubbed the "bunker buster," is the only known U.S. weapon potentially capable of breaching Fordow, a facility buried deep within a mountain and central to Iran’s nuclear program. But even experts say the MOP might only be just powerful enough.
“Fordow could be at the edge of the MOP’s capabilities with only one munition,” said Masao Dahlgren of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
What is the MOP?
The MOP features a robust shell to withstand the shock of deep penetration into reinforced structures and smart fusing technology to ensure detonation at the correct depth.
“You can’t just hit the entrance and expect to destroy the entire complex,” said Dahlgren. “That’s why this bomb exists.”
Can it reach Fordow?
The Fordow site is estimated to be 80–90 metres (260–295 feet) underground. A recent report from the Royal United Services Institute casts doubt on the MOP’s ability to fully penetrate the site with a single strike, suggesting multiple precise impacts may be necessary.
Deployment logistics
Only the B-2 Spirit, a stealth bomber operated from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, can carry the MOP. The aircraft can fly up to 6,000 nautical miles without refueling and is designed to evade even advanced air defences.
The U.S. has a limited stockpile of MOPs. Boeing delivered 20 bombs by 2009; experts believe the arsenal includes roughly 30 munitions today.
Military and political stakes
The potential use of the MOP reflects escalating pressure from Israel amid its conflict with Iran, and U.S. President Donald Trump’s deliberations on how deeply the U.S. will get involved militarily. While Israel views Fordow as a critical target, deploying the MOP could mark a dramatic U.S. escalation.
The bomb has never been used in combat. Its first real-world deployment would signal a major turning point in the ongoing conflict and global geopolitics.
“It’s a really complex program,” said Dahlgren. “But it’s the only one of its kind, and if it’s going to be used anywhere—it’s for something like Fordow.”
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